Buckle, clasp, or the like



l. R. VERSOY BUCKLE, CLASP, OR THE LIKE Aug. 11, 1942.

'- Filed Feb. 4, 1942' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1942- l. R. VERSOY 2,292,553

BUCKLE, CLASP, OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ian n11ill/III .21 M www Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE2,292,553 BUCKLE, CLASP, on THE LIKE Irving R. Versoy, New Haven, Conn.,assignor to The Berger Brothers Company, New Haven, Conn, a corporationof Connecticut Application February 4, 1942, Serial No. 429,4

15 Claims.

This invention relates to buckles or similar fastening devices, and moreparticularly to a buckle designed to be used to secure garments or partsof garments together. The invention is, however, capable of use in anyrelation wherein the ordinary functions of a buckle are desired.

When garments or parts of a garment are to be secured together by meansof a buckle, it is desirable that the portions of the buckle may beengaged with a minimum of efiort or attention on the part of the user,and at the same time be so engaged that there is no likelihood ofaccidental detachment of the parts. It is, of course, also desirable toso arrange the buckle that the parts may be readily detached whendesired.

The present invention is designed to provide a buckle having theaforesaid functions.

One object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a two-partbuckl designed to connect garments or parts of a garment such that theportions of the bucklemay be securely interengaged with a minimum ofeflort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two-part buckle of theclass described, the parts being so arranged that when once engagedthere will be no likelihood of accidental detachment, while at the sametime the parts may be readily detached one from theother when this isdesired.

A still further object of the invention is to providea simpleandeconomical form of buckle for use in attachinggarments or parts ofagarment together, which buckle will be efiicientin operation, economicalto manufacture, and unlikely to become disengaged.

A still further object of the invention isto provide a buckle designedto be used in relations in which the buckle itself and associated partsof the garment or garments to which the buckle is attached. with besubject to relatively hard usage, while at the same time thebuckle willbe relatively simple to manipulate, both as regards the attachment ofits parts and the detachment thereof.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features andcombinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of portions of a garment providedinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of one of the buckles and associatedparts of the garment;

Fig. 3 is a sectional'viewonline 3-53 of Fig. 2

with buckles embodying my Fig. 4 is a detached planview of the male andfemale portions of the buckle per se;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line.55 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, 7 and ,8 are sectional View through the portions of the buckleshowing the operation of securing the two parts of the buckle together;

Hg. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a slightly modified form ofmy invention;

Fig. 10is a sectional view on line l0|0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the female member of the buckle;

Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing a further modification;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line l3.|3 of,

Fig. 12;

' Fig. i4 is a perspective View of the female member of thebuckleshownin Figs. 12 and 13; and s Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional View ofa slightly modified form of the buckle shown in Fig. 4. To illustrate apreferred Iembodimentof my invention, I have shown in the accompanyingdrawings a garment which in this instance is a belt comprising afrontsectionl 0 and I I tion I I, the latter being provided withrelatively long straps l2 secured to tabs [3 adjacent the ends of whichthe male portions of the buckles It are adjustably secured, as will behereinafter explained. The front section lliof the garment is providedwith relatively short straps l5 to which the female portions of thebuckles M are secured. As shown, the garment is also provided withperineal straps l6 which are adapted to be secured to the back portionof the garment by similar buckles l4. It will be understood thatthisparticular garment is shown only by way of illustrating one of thevarious uses of the in' vention whichis applicableto garments or partsof garments of other form and construction.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the buckle [4 comprisesa male portion A and a female portion B. The male portion A of thebuckle is generally in the form of a hollow rec a rear secplained, isadapted to cooperate with an opening in the female portion B of thebuckle. The tongue 2| is substantially in the plane of the rectangularbody portion of the portion A of the buckle, but inclines slightlyinwardly or downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5. Also this tongue 2| maytaper slightly toward its free end so as to provide for easy engagementwith the female portion of the buckle.

Slidably mounted on the side portions I8 is the usual clamping bar 22having a tongue 23 extending below and adapted to cooperate with therear bar I! to grip the strap therebetween, as will be hereinafterexplained.

The female portion B of the buckle comprises a base portion 24. anintermediate portion 25 extending substantially transversely to the baseportion, and an end or tip portion 26 substantially parallel to the baseportion 24 but inclined slightly downwardly toward the base portion, asshown, for example, in Fig. 5. It will be seen, therefore, that thefemale portion of the buckle is substantially Z-shaped in cross section,having two substantially parallel portions 24 and 26 extending inopposite directions from the ends of a transverse or upstanding portion25.

The portion 24 of the female portion of the buckle is provided with atransversely extending slot 21, and an upstanding stop or shoulder 28,the shoulder, as shown, being preferably formed by bending upwardly atsubstantially right angles to the plane of the member 24 a portion ofthe metal from the slot 21. Also the upstanding intermediate portion 25of this portion of the buckle is provided with an opening 29, which isadapted to receive the tongue 2| of the male portion of the buckle. Thefree end 26 of the female portion of the buckle has tapered sides to besubstantially V-shaped in plan view, as shown in Fig. 4.-

The female portion of the buckle is secured upon the strap I by havingthis strap passed through the slot 21 and the ends of the strap sewed orotherwise secured together. The male portion of the buckle, as shown inFig. 3, is adapted to be secured to the free end of the strap l2. Asshown in this figure, the end of the strap is passed below the rear endof the buckle and upwardly between the bar 22 and tongue 2|. It is thenfolded upon itself and passed downwardly between the bar 22 and the rearportion ll of the buckle lying below the latter. This secures the buckleadjustably to the strap, for, as will be understood, when tension isexerted upon the lower ply l2 of this strap, the slidable bar 22 will beforced toward the portion thus binding the strap between this side ofthe buckle and the tongue 23. However, when tension is exerted upon thefree end |2 forming the upper ply of the strap, the strap will slipfreely through the buckle for adjustment.

After the ends of the strap have been inserted in the male portion ofthe buckle, as described, and adjusted to the desired position, theupper ply l2 of the strap may be inserted within the space 20 betweenthe rear bar I! and the end portions l9. This may be readily done byfolding the outer edges of this free end of the strap toward the centerand inserting them into the slot 20 through the opening between theadjacent ends of the portions Hi. This will cause the entire maleportion of the buckle to be held in the plane of the strap and not swingloosely around the strap upon the bar 22, as would otherwise be thecase, and results in easier manipulation of the buckle during thefastening operation.

After the strap has been so arranged, both plies may be inserted withina clip 48, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this clip merely being in the formof a keeper and comprising a strip of metal folded in the form shown,having its ends spaced, as shown at 4|, for the insertion of the pliesof the strap.

When the two portions of the buckle have been secured to the straps l2and I5, respectively, they may be securely engaged, as shown in Figs. 6,'7 and 8. As shown in Fig. 6, for example, the operation is begun bytilting the male portion of the buckle with respect to the femaleportion of the buckle, and inserting the end portion 26 between thetongue 2| and bar 22 until the end of the tongue 2| reaches the opening29. The direction of movement may now be reversed so that the tongue 2|enters the opening 29, as shown in Fig. 7. The male portion A of thebuckle may then be brought upwardly substantially in the plane of thefemale portion B, and, as shown in Fig. 8, the front edge of the portionwill then lie between the shoulder or stop 28 and the intermediateupstanding portion 25 of the buckle. It will be seen, therefore, thatwith the parts in this position there will be no danger of anydisengagement of the parts, for, as shown in Fig. 8, the male portion ofthe buckle must move toward the right with respect to the female portionto be disengaged, and such movement is prevented by the shoulder 28.

Disengagement can only be effected by tilting the main portion of thebuckle to the position shown in Fig. 7, and, as will be understood, thistilting movement is resisted when thebuckle is in use by the tensionwhich will normally be applied to the straps I2 and l5. It will be seenthat the slight inclination of the portion 2| will facilitate theinsertion of this member into the opening 29, as will also the roundedor tapered end portion of the part 2|. This shape of the latter memberwill serve to guide it through the opening or slot, even if it mayapproach that slot at an angle.

In Fig. 15 of the drawings I have shown the upstanding portion 25 of thefemale portion of the buckle provided with a forwardly extending bump orboss 25*. When the two portions of the buckle are engaged it will beseen that the front portion ll of the male part of the buckle will liebelow this boss and will thereby be held against upward movement. Asupward movement is necessary for disengagement of the parts, it will beseen that they will be securely locked together, although it will befound that in many instances the provision of the boss 25 isunnecessary.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings I have shown a somewhat modifiedform of buckle in which the tongue 2| corresponding to the tongue 2| ofthe male portion of the buckle shown in Fig. 4, is provided withdove-tailed side edges 30 whereby the end portion of this member iswider than the base portion adjacent the front cross member H. Theopening 2|! of the female portion of this modified form of buckle isprovided with upwardly and outwardly tapering side edges 3|, as shownmore especially in Fig. 11, and the upper portion of this opening isslightly larger to extend a slightly greater distance along the tipportion 26. Otherwise the buckle shown in Figs. 9 to 11 is substantiallylike that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the two portions will be engagedin the same manner except thatthe tongue 2| can only be inserted throughthe opening 29 when it is at the upper part of this opening. After such.insertion it will be moved downwardly, as already explained, and the,narrower base portion of the tongueZH will engage in the lower narrowportion of the opening 29 and will be prevented from being disengagedfrom. this opening, as the tip of the tongue Zi will be toolarge to.pass through the lower portion of the opening 29%. Disengagement is, ofcourse, eifected by raising the tongue into the larger part of theopening 29*.

In Figs. 12 to 14 of the drawings a further modification is shown, inwhich the tongue 'Zl is of T-shaped formation having overhanging endportions 32. The opening it of the female portion of the buckle is inthis instance of simi lar shape, being enlarged at its upper portion, asshown at 33, and provided with shoulders 36 at its lower portion. Inthis instance also, the tongue Zl can only be inserted through the upperportion of the opening 2%, and when it drops down until the member I!rests upon the base portion 26, the overhanging members 32 will be heldbehind the shoulders 34 and eifectively prevent disengagement of theparts. In other respects the parts of the buckles shown in Figs. 12 to14 are substantially like the corresponding elements-of the bucklesshown in Figs. 4 and 5.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of myinvention, it-will be understood that it is not to be limited to all ofthe details shown, but is capableof modification and variation withinthe spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A two-part buckle or clasp, one part of which is of open rectangularformation provided with side members and a forwardly disposed memberhaving an inwardly projecting tongue, the other part thereof having abase portion and a second portion in a plane substantially at rightangles to that of the base portion, said second portion having anopening to receive said tongue, and a strap-clamping bar slidablymounted on said side members.

2. A two-part buckle or clasp, one part of which is provided with aforwardly disposed member having an inwardly projecting tongue, theother part thereof having a base portion and a second portion in a planesubstantially at right angles to that of the base portion, said secondportion having an opening to receive said tongue, and means on said baseportion to engage said member on said first part and normally preventwithdrawal of the tongue from the opening.

3. A two-part buckle or clasp, one part of which is provided with aforwardly disposed member having an inwardly projecting tongue, theother part thereof having a base portion and a second portion in a planesubstantially at right angles to that of the base portion, said secondportion having an opening to receive said tongue, and an upstandingshoulder on said base portion to abut said member on the first part andnormally hold it against movement in a direction to withdraw said tonguefrom said opening.

4. A two-part buckle or clasp, one part of which is provided with aforwardly disposed member having an inwardly projecting tongue, theother part thereof having a base portion and a second portion in a planesubstantially at between said second portion right. angles torthat. ofthe base portion, said second portion havingan openingto receive saidtongue, and anupstanding shoulder on said base portion to. abut saidmember on. the first part and normallyhold it against movement in a di-.

rectionto withdraw said tongue from said opening, said member being ofban-like form and adapted to lie snugly between said second portion andsaidshoulder.

5. A two-part buckle or. clasp, one part of which is provided with aforwardlydisposed member navingan inwardly projecting tongue, the otherpart-thereof having a baseportion and a second portion ina planesubstantially at right angles to that .of the base portion, said secondportion having an opening to'receive said tongue, an upstanding shoulderon said base portion to abut said member on the first part and normallyhold it against movement in a direction to withdraw said. tongue fromsaid opening, said member being of bar-like form and adapted to liesnugly and said shoulder, and said shoulder having a boss thereon tooverlie said bar-like member.

6. A two-part buckle or clasp comprising one partad-apted to beadjustably secured to a strap or the like, said part having a frontbar-like memberprovided with a rearwardly projecting tongue .lyingsubstantially in the plane of the member, and a second part comprising abase portion adapted to be secured to a part of a garment, a portionupstanding from the base-portion and provided with an opening to receivetongue, and an end portion extending from the upper edge of saidupstanding portion in a direction away from the base portion, andIneansfor adjustably securing said first part to a strap.

7. A two-part buckle or clasp comprising one part adapted to beadjustably secured to a strap or the like, said part having a frontbar-like member provided with a rearwardly projecting tongue lyingsubstantially in the plane of the member, and asecond part comprising abase portion adapted to be secured to a part of a garment, aportionupstanding from the base portion and provided with an opening to receivesaid tongue, an end portion extending from the upper edge of saidupstanding portion in a direction away from the base portion, and ashoulder on said base portion spaced from and substantially parallel tosaid upstanding portion to engage said bar-like member and hold it inplace.

8. A two-part buckle or clasp comprising one part adapted to beadjustably secured to a strap or the'like, said part having a frontbar-like member provided with a rearwardly projecting tongue lyingsubstantially in the plane of the member, and a second part comprising abase portion adapted to be secured to a part of a garment, a portionupstanding from the base portion and provided with an opening to receivesaid tongue, and an end portion extending from the upper edge of saidupstanding portion in a direction away from the base portion, said endportion overlying said tongue when the latter is re ceived in saidopening.

9. A buckle or clasp comprising a female member of substantiallyZ-shaped form having an intermediate portion and substantially parallelend portions extending in opposite directions from the ends of saidintermediate portion, the latter being provided with an opening, and amale member of open construction having a front bar and an inwardlyprojecting tongue on said bar adapted to be received in said opening.

said.

10. A buckle or clasp comprising a female member of substantiallyZ-shaped form having an intermediate portion and substantially parallelend portions extending in opposite directions from the ends of saidintermediate portion, the latter being provided with an opening, and amale member of open construction having a front bar and an inwardlyprojecting tongue on said bar adapted to be received in said opening,said tongue and opening being of complementary shape whereby the bucklemembers interlock when the tongue is inserted in the opening.

11. A buckle or clasp comprising a female member of substantiallyZ-shaped form having an intermediate portion and substantially parallelend portions extending in opposite directions from the ends of saidintermediate portion, the latter being provided with an opening, and amale member of open construction having a front bar and an inwardlyprojecting tongue on said bar adapted to be received in said opening,and said tongue and opening being of dove-tailed form whereby saidtongue when inserted in the opening interlocks with the edges thereof.

12. A buckle or clasp comprising a female member of substantiallyZ-shaped form having an intermediate portion and substantially parallelend portions extending in opposite directions from the ends of saidintermediate portion, the latter being provided with an opening, and amale member of open construction having a front bar and an inwardlyprojecting tongue on said bar adapted to be received in said opening,said tongue and opening being of T-shaped form whereby said tongue wheninserted in said opening interlocks with the edges thereof.

13. A buckle or clasp comprising a female member of substantiallyZ-shaped form having an intermediate portion and substantially parallelend portions extending in opposite directions from the ends of saidintermediate portion, the latter being provided with an opening, and amale member of open construction having a front bar and an inwardlypropecting tongue on said bar adapted to be received in said opening,one of the end portions of said female member having an upstandingshoulder thereon spaced from and substantially parallel to saidintermediate portion whereby said bar is retained between saidintermediate portion and said shoulder.

14. A buckle or clasp comprising a female member of substantiallyZ-shaped form having an intermediate portion and substantially parallelend portions extending in opposite directions from the ends of saidintermediate portion, the latter being provided with an opening, and amale member of open construction having a front bar and an inwardlyprojecting tongue on said bar adapted to be received in said opening,said tongue being slightly inclined with respect to the plane of saidbar to facilitate engaging said member with the female portion of thebuckle.

15. A buckle or clasp comprising a female member of substantiallyZ-shaped form having an intermediate portion and substantially parallelend portions extending in opposite directions from the ends of saidintermediate portion, the latter being provided with an opening, a malemember of open construction having a front bar and an inwardlyprojecting tongue on said bar adapted to be received in said opening,said male member having at the rear portion thereof a slot to receive astrap or the like, and said slot opening through the rear edge of saidmember.

IRVING R. VERSOY.

and

